The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-08-11
REMARKABLE SURGICAL OPERATION.
Muscle Transplanting Successfully Per
formed-A Servants Self-Sacrifice.
81 East Washington

New YORK, Aug 10.-Rose Terhune is the
ten year-old daughter of of the many re-
tired bankers of this city. She is the youngest
lneal descendant of one OF the oldest New York
families. Although small and slight for her age,
she made up the physical defect in grace, bright
ness and beauty. Her winning ways caused
every one who came in contact with her volun-
tarily to yield her love and affection.
Her health broke down under school disci-
pline. and she was sent to the country. near
Saratoga. to recuperate at the home of a rela-
tive One day while swinging, her pet dog,
cross between q shepherd and Newfoun dland,
was leapng playfuly at her the
swing would 60 over his head. His teeth
caught in her dress and she dragged
to the ground, which she struck with
much fsfce, rolling over and over a distance
of over twenty feet the animal going with her.
a tumbling, mixedup mass. 1t moving
day, and the girl and the dog shot right across
the front of rapidly moving moving machine.
There shout of horror from the driver that
accelerated the steps of the horses and added TO
the calamity. In an instant the sharp knives of
the mower had cut their way into the quivering
flesh, while the long. proney-like guards had
thrust themselves cruelty into her thigh The
dog saved her life at the expense of his own. It
may have been chance aud it may have been the
noble endeavor of protection for which his
species has ever been noted but in rolling
he threw himself in front of the child, received
the worst of the cutting, and died almost before
his mistress was extricated from her predica-'
ment.
The child's wound was in the
right thigh, where nearly all the flesh from the
knee to the hip bone had been stripped from the
thigh bone The abdomen was also badly lacer-
ated the same side. The hemorrhage was
checked well possible with common reme-
dies at hand in every farmhouse. PHYSICIANS
summoned from Saratoga. MIR. Terhnne
telegraphed at Newport of the disaster.
He hurried to New York and took with him
from there to the little sufferers bedside their
family physician, DIR. Wilder, who remained
until the little girl became stronger, and then
took her by easy stages to his private hospital
in New York. Every effort was made to rein
vigorate her. but the loss of blood aud the
healing wound in the thigh were greatly against
recovery
What was done in the case is indicated below:
DR.. Wilder at length held consultations with
several expert surgeons when it had become evil
dent that the wound would not heal naturally,
and it was decided that the only chance was ia
muscle transportation. Where was the muscle
to come FRONT Usually the experiment is tried
with dog. But in this case DIR. Wilder wanted
a human being to furnish the flesh. 1t did
take long to find one after big Harry Blake, the
Terhunes coachman, heard what was wanted,
for he promptly offered himself. His father had
been in the Terhune service before him. and he
had never looked on little Rose without calling
her an angel. He told DR.. Wilder that every
of flesh his bones was at Miss Roses
disposal. DIR. Wilder found that Blake came of
good stock, and that there hereditary
disease in his family. He decided to operate
in TO assist. While DIR. Wilder was
working on Blake, the girls thigh bone
was being prepared by other surgeons Both
subjects were given ether. A narrow strip of
flesh about and onehalf inch wide and
tw elve inches long on the outside of Blakes
left thigh was dissected loose from the surround
ing tissue. An attachment left at the
lower portion, SO that it could be nourshed
The girl transferred to Blake's cot and the
long strip of flesh was laid upon the wound in
her thigh. It covered about one-quarter the
unh nhealed surface and was joined with stitches
the healthy tissue. The girls thigh was fast
ened to Blake's with bandages and adhesive
plaster in the irmest manner. The wound
being sprinkled with iodoform and bandaged,
the first operation was over. 1t was highly sue
cessfal. Blake followed his instructions and
did not move for two weeks. Little Rose, ly-
ing beside hirn. also quiet When the
bandaees were removed Blake's flesh was found
to be firmly united to the patients. and the at
tachment was severed. Only small portion OF
the tissue sloughed away in healing
After few days rest the operation was con-
tinued. The flesh on this occasion was taken
from Blake's right thigh and he had to lay for
two weeks on his abdomen. He remained cheer
fully. while the patient at his side grew strong
er at his expense. The second strip of flesh did
not unite well the first. About one-quar-
ter of it had TO be removed. The rest healed
we'll longer interval was allowed TO pass be-
fore anything more was done and little lines or
tissue shot ont from the grated flesh into the
unhealed surface. The grating process was re-
peated seven times in all Pieces OF tissue were
taken from both of Blakes arms. Two other
small pieces were taken from each calf. There
was only one failure of flesh to unite, and that
was one of the sections.
AS the area of unhealed flesh dimi inshed in
the patient, her health and strength improved,
much to the delight OF Blake. who seemed
take delight in suffering for his little pet. She
was aole to walk last week for the first time
since ner mishap. She Is strong and hearty, end
there 10 nothing 10 prevent her complete recov-
cry What the Tcrhunes will do for Blake has
not been announced, but it is safe say that he
Will not be forgotten. Little Rose says they
must buy him a farm where there are no now
ing machines.